CCMAR/IJ/12/2026 | Junior Researcher (W/M)| Ecology and Natural Resources Management| 1 Vacancy
Junior Researcher (M/F) in the area of Ecology and Natural Resources Management - 1 Position Available (W/M)
Reference: CCMAR/IJ/12/2026
The Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR) is opening a recruitment and selection procedure for one Junior Researcher position (M/F) in the field of Ecology and Natural Resources Management open to candidates of any nationality, including stateless persons, under an uncertain term employment contract, with the aim of recruiting and selecting the best candidate to carry out activities within the framework of the project Developing aquatic tracking infrastructure across the Mediterranean for Green Transition, B_T_1.1_0513 – MEDTRACK, funded by Interreg NEXT MED Programme, co-funded by the European Union, under the following conditions:
1. About CCMAR:
CCMAR (https://ccmar.ualg.pt/) is one of Portugal's leading marine science research centres, rated Excellent in evaluations promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). With a multidisciplinary team, well-equipped facilities, and laboratories, CCMAR engages in core areas such as research, training, business, societal engagement, and collaboration.
2. Summary and Functions:
We are seeking a Junior Researcher to carry out research and development activities in the fields of Ecology and Natural Resources Management. The selected candidate will be expected to undertake the following tasks:
1. Collaborate on project management
2. Participate in fieldwork, including fish capture and tagging and acoustic receiver deployment and maintenance
3. Maintain the acoustic detections database up to date
4. Contribute toward project reporting and scientific publications
3. Applicable Law:
⦁ Decree-Law No. 57/2016, of August 29, amended by Law No. 57/2017, of July 19.
⦁ Regulatory Decree No. 11-A/2017, of December 29.
⦁ Labour Code, approved by Law No. 7/2009, of February 12, in its current version.
⦁ Decree-Law No. 124/99 of April 20, in its current version (Scientific Research Career By-Laws).
⦁ Administrative Procedure Code.
⦁ Internal Regulation for Scientific Research and Technological Development Personnel, and Science and Technology Management and Communication at Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve here.
4. Start Date: The contract is expected to start from December 2026.
5. Workplace: Activities will occur at CCMAR (University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal) and other locations necessary for the proposed tasks.
6. Working Hours: 35 hours per week.
7. Monthly Salary: Depending on the profile and experience of the candidate, the gross monthly base remuneration to be assigned will correspond to either level 33 (€2,408.11) or level 38 (€2,679.17) of the single remuneration table (TRU) in accordance with the internal regulations of the scientific research, technological development, and science and technology management and communication personnel of CCMAR, plus inclusion in the CCMAR group life insurance policy and the possibility of enrolling in the CCMAR group health insurance, co-financed at 50% by CCMAR and 50% by the employee.
8. Application Period: The application period opens on 19 October 2026 and closes on 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (Lisbon time, Portugal).
9. Required Profile: Applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. Hold a PhD in Marine Ecology or related field.
2. Have experience in acoustic telemetry, including fish tagging, data management and analysis.
3. Have experience in leading scientific publications and managing research outputs.
4. Have strong oral and written English skills.
The following will be considered an advantage:
Knowledge of Portuguese and familiarity with the European Tracking Network (ETN) and its database.
10. Selection Panel:
The selection panel consists of:
1. Professor David Abecasis, Professor at the Algarve University and team leader at CCMAR (president).
2. Doctor Rita Costa Abecasis, Head of the CCMAR Ocean Education Unit (full member).
3. Doctor Jorge Fontes, auxiliary researcher at OKEANOS (full member).
4. Doctor Jorge Assis, auxiliary researcher and team leader at CCMAR (full member).
5. Doctor Barbara Horta e Costa, auxiliary researcher at CCMAR (full member).
6. Doctor Eliza Fragkopolou, junior researcher at CCMAR (substitute member).
7. Doctor Sofia Graça Aranha Carvalho, postdoctoral fellowship holder at UALG (substitute member)
11. Evaluation and Selection Process:
The evaluation will consist of a curriculum assessment (final rating between 0-100).
Admitted applications will be evaluated considering the scientific and curricular path, focusing on the relevance, quality, and up-to-datedness of the following criteria:
CA) Scientific, technological, cultural or artistic output produced over the last five years, considered by the candidate to be the most relevant to the tasks to be carried out within the project. The content and relevance of the output will be given greater importance than publication metrics or the prestige of the publishing entity (50%).
CB) Applied or practice-based research activities developed in the last five years and considered by the candidate to be most impactful (20%)
CC) Extension and dissemination activities developed in the last five years, particularly in the context of promoting scientific culture and practices, considered most relevant by the candidate (15%)
CD) Activities related to the management of science, technology and innovation programmes, or experience in observing and monitoring the science and technology system or the higher education system, in Portugal or abroad (15%).
The selection panel may extend the five years referred to in the evaluation criteria upon the candidate’s request when justified by the suspension of scientific activity for socially protected reasons, such as parental leave, severe prolonged illness, and other legally protected situations of work unavailability.
The selection panel reserves the right to contact or interview candidates if additional information or clarification of documentary aspects related to research results is needed. The possible interview, which does not constitute a selection method and is not classified, aims to obtain clarifications or explanations on elements contained in the candidates’ CVs.
12. Selection Panel Functioning:
The evaluation (with a score of 0-100) is carried out through the assessment of the motivation letter (with a personal evaluation of the relevance of the activities of the last 5 years to the present competition, highlighting the chosen publications), the CV that will include activities in the specific area and the candidate's scientific and professional path, and up to 3 articles selected by the candidate.
The score of each candidate is obtained by summing the points of each criterion multiplied by the respective weights according to the following formula:
C = CA*50% + CB*20% + CC*15% + CD*15%
After determining the candidates’ scores (C), each selection panel member will rank the candidates from highest to lowest score. Voting follows for the first place and each successive place. The candidate receiving the majority of votes will be selected.
If no candidate is selected in the first round of voting, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and the process is repeated with the remaining candidates. In the event of a tie, applying the previous criteria, the jury president will make the tie-breaking decision.
The selection panel will write minutes of meetings describing the evaluation and selection process, including a ranked list of admitted candidates and their scores. The CCMAR Board of Directors will validate the panel's final decision.
The jury reserves the right to close the competition without recruitment if the candidates do not possess the appropriate profile for the proposed functions. If the selected candidate cannot be appointed due to non-compliance with documentary requirements or other reasons, or if they later terminate the employment contract, the jury reserves the right to appoint the next candidate in the final ranking, subject to an assessment of appropriateness and opportunity, based on a reserve list that can be used up to 12 months from the date of this announcement.
13. Required Documents, Process, and Submission of Applications:
Only complete applications submitted directly and obligatorily on the CCMAR website https://ccmar.ualg.pt/en/career-opportunities are accepted. The application is considered valid only after the candidate receives written confirmation from CCMAR. The application in English must include:
a) A motivation letter (in English) with a personal evaluation of the relevance of the activities of the last 5 years to the present position, highlighting the chosen publications, considering the evaluation criteria, not exceeding 10 000 characters;
b) Detailed curriculum vitae (in English) that includes activities in the specific area and the scientific and professional path of the candidate organised according to the CV evaluation criteria;
c) Up to 3 articles chosen by the candidate;
d) A copy of the Ph.D. certificate;
e) Email contact of up to 3 references.
Failure to meet the requirements or submit the documents specified in Sections 9 and 13 will result in the immediate rejection of the application. In accordance with the Law, the provision of false information may be subject to penalties.
14. Results:
The list of admitted and excluded candidates and the final ranking list will be posted on the CCMAR website at https://ccmar.ualg.pt/en/career-opportunities, and candidates will be notified by email.
15. Prior Hearing and Final Decision Deadline:
15.1) After evaluating all admitted applications, the Selection Panel will produce a provisional minute describing the admission, evaluation, and selection process, including a list of candidates ranked and their scores and decisions.
15.2) All candidates will be notified by email of the Selection Panel's provisional decision.
15.3) Under Article 121 of the Administrative Procedure Code, all candidates have 10 working days from the date of email notification to contest the provisional decision by emailing the Selection Panel.
15.4) The CCMAR Board of Directors will validate the final decision, which will be communicated (by email) to all candidates within 90 working days from the application deadline.
16. Final Information:
16.1) Candidates holding PhD certificates proving degrees from a foreign university must have their PhD certificate recognised in Portugal when signing the employment contract. Failure to do so justifies exclusion from the procedure. Information on degree recognition can be obtained from any Portuguese university or here.
16.2) This position is subject to the signature of the project Grant Agreement and to the maintenance of the conditions underlying the recruitment. The CCMAR Board of Directors reserves the right to cancel the recruitment procedure, without any appointment being made, should there be any change in the circumstances or conditions initially foreseen.
16.3) CCMAR endorses the European Charter for Researchers.
16.4) Candidates with disabilities shall be given preference in the event of equal ranking, taking precedence over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare in their application, on their honour, their degree of certified incapacity, type of disability, and the communication/expression methods to be used during the selection process.
16.5) CCMAR encourages applications from persons with disabilities, including those with a degree of certified incapacity of 60% or higher.
16.6) CCMAR's Non-Discrimination and Equal Access Policy: No candidate shall be privileged, benefited, prejudiced, or deprived of any right or exempt from any duty on grounds including, but not limited to, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family situation, economic situation, social origin or condition, genetic heritage, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnicity, territory of origin, language, religion, political or ideological convictions, or trade union membership.
The members of the Selection Panel approved this announcement on 13 October 2026.
